Cruise Post #3 (The Ports)

Our first port of call was Cabo San Lucas. We took a glass bottom boat ride which I mostly enjoyed...except when I realized that our boat had a grand total of 1 dilapidated life jacket...for 14 people including 2 infants, one of whom was strapped to me! Thankfully we didn't sink. Unfortunately it was the glass bottom boat where Dan broke his toe.

Lover's Beach viewed from the glass-bottom boat


Land's End


Seals! Cool to look at but not-so-cool to smell :)


The family on Lover's Beach, Pacific Ocean in the background


Megan ready to shop in Mazatlan


The family in Mazatlan


Megan enjoying the beach...she fell asleep while we walked to it and never even knew we were there!


Mazatlan had my favorite sand--it looked like there were swirls of gold in it as the water washed over it. It was soft too.


The scenic view from our boat while docked at Puerto Vallarta (ha- that's the view of the WalMart and the Sam's Club--how quaint)


Sunset in Puerto Vallarta. We played on the beach between the second and third rock jetties. Megan's first time in the ocean was definitely a success--she grinned the whole time!


One more of sunset--it really was beautiful


Dan and a happy little Megan


Heather and Randy


The ports were fun, I had never REALLY been to Mexico and overall I liked it. But it did make me grateful to live in the good old U. S. of A.--Mexico was like a whole other country :)

Cruise Post #2 (Formal Night 1)

Once we got underway, we spent 2 days cruising.

Here is a group shot from the card room--we spent a lot of our cruising days there. Why weren't we laying out and taking in the sun you ask? Well--until we got to Mexico, it was only about 60 degrees on deck! Ali and I tried laying out Monday afternoon, but by the time we got sunscreen on we were shivering and quickly gave up to get in the hot tub.


Megan's favorite thing to do--help! She is an excellent cardeater...


Dan and I on the first formal night. We had the late dinner at 8:30 pm and all nights but one, Megan cooperated by going to bed in the stroller at 8--our waiters only saw her once!


One of the two tables--check out Heather's cute face.


The other table. I especially like the food-grin from Robbie.

Cruise Post #1

Woo hoo for cruises! We enjoyed and survived our first cruise. The enjoyment was because we had fantastic company, food, and sites to see. The survival included many elements: Megan's first tooth, an ear infection, a 2 hour time change, and an eye infection and for Dan, a broken toe. Amber's survival was simply having to deal with the other two :)

Waiting to board the ship in San Pedro, CA


On the boat, it's pushing off!


Megan getting ready for the "mustard" drill


Most of the family (Heather is laying nearby trying not to get sick)


Megan's favorite cruise hangout--the stroller!

Limbo Limbo

We're finally feeling like we're back to some semblance of real life after a few weeks of limbo. Our stuff made it to Houston just fine, we spent 4 days unpacking (but not really getting settled since we would come to our apartment during the day but meals and nights were spent at my parents' house), and then headed off on our cruise with Dan's family. I must say I didn't love going on vacation in the middle of moving. I was pretty stressed before leaving, trying to make sure we had everything packed for vacation and I hated leaving our new apartment in such a mess! I've really enjoyed attacking pile after pile and finding homes for everything now that we're back. I've even gone grocery shopping (it's amazing how having food in the fridge makes everything seem better :). Here's some pictures of the mess that was our apartment. Follow up pictures will be posted eventually.

The Main Living Area--observe the lack of cinderblock and the high ceilings. and the boxes...they are a lovely touch


Megan's room


The master bedroom

Fun times at Grandma's house

We've really enjoyed our weekend in Bountiful. Megan especially has enjoyed being snuggled and spoiled by Grandma, Papa, and Uncle Ben.

Megan loves to help me get ready in the morning--the double vanity really comes in handy!


Megan and her Great-Grandfather. We got to spend some time with Grandfather and Mama Laney this afternoon.


Megan in her (and Mom's) favorite toy at Grandma's--the swing set! Megan loves to swing by herself--she smiles and giggles nearly the whole time.

The Only Way to Move

One of the biggest perks that comes with Dan's new job is that his company moved us--we didn't have to collect a single box, pack a single item, or carry a single piece of furniture down those dreaded three flights of stairs. Dan and his dad had so much fun carrying all of those items UP the stairs, they were really quite sad to miss out on that experience...NOT. Let us tell you, THAT was the way to move. We went to Dan's graduation ceremony at 8 am, were home by 9:30, put away a few small items and waited for the movers. They arrived and got started around 11 am. We were there for a little while but were basically in the way. So we walked around Costco, went out to lunch, and took naps only to be rudely awakened by the movers around 2:30 pm. They were DONE! That's right my friends, by 3 pm, a mere 4 hours after they started, our entire apartment was boxed, labeled, and safely tucked into the moving van. It was amazing. Anyway. We were able to get a head start on cleaning and finished up Saturday around 1:30 pm. We've been relaxing since then in Bountiful and will fly to Houston tomorrow.

Megan was a big help while we cleaned the apartment--she took great naps so we could get lots done.


*Just a side note: The green pillow Megan is sleeping on was the first and last piece of "furniture" in our apartment! For the first 3 weeks of our married life, it was the only place to sit in the apartment--it served as couch, table, and chairs. And then, at the end of our time in Wymount, it served as crib and bouncy chair as well!

Class of 2008

Just in time for his 10 year high school reunion, Dan is wearing graduate robes for the second time! He is officially done with his baccalaureate education and I am so proud of him. One of Dan's lifetime goals was to get in to BYU and now he is a BYU alumnus. It was not an easy road but he was determined and put in the hard work necessary to accomplish it. He is a pretty amazing guy...sigh, I'm so lucky :)

The whole family before the school-wide commencement...it was between snow flurries and about 35 degrees! Brrr!


Megan and Dan outside the Marriot center


The whole fam


Dan and his parents at the smaller graduation ceremony


Megan really enjoyed the ceremony :)

The End of an Era

It has been a very eventful few weeks for our little family. We have had lots of "lasts" and are looking forward to many firsts. A week ago Friday, we went to dinner with some of our favorite people in the world! Maren, Brian, Brigham, Bryan, Lynn, Nathan, and Stephanie. We went to the Bombay House (a really, really yummy Indian restaurant in Provo). It was some delicious food and even better company. We will miss our many Utah friends. It is hard to believe that I have known Maren and Stephanie for 6 years and all the boys for about 5. Wow, how time flies.

Lynn, Bryan, and Brian


Stephanie, Nathan, and baby boy bump


Maren, baby boy bump, and Amber


Brigham helping eat some ice cream


Dan and I enjoying our last night of entertaining in 650 square feet of 1960's cinderblock!

Swimming!

On Tuesday, we heated the hot tub to 99 so the kids could swim. Megan thought the huge bathtub with Mom and Dad in it was just about the best thing ever. She had a great time.

Mom and Megan


Daddy and Megan


We let her go topless...scandalous, I know!

Green!

There was no doubting what season it was while we were in Texas--spring had arrived! Flowers were blooming, my mom's garden was thriving, and there was green everywhere. I had to learn how to dress Megan for the warmer weather so she didn't roast, and she LOVED being outside.

Megan and Zach relaxing while the family played croquet.


Funny face


I love the colors in this one.

Go 'Stros!!

Dan got to go to his first Astros game at Minute Maid Park while we were in Houston. Dan, Tyler, and I were invited to use some extra season tickets from our good family friends. Kat (the daughter of the family with the tickets) and Kaden her sweet little boy were there also, and her husband Glen even made a quick appearance. Dan and I loved hanging out with Kat and Glen before they moved and we are excited to be closer to them again in a few weeks!

As you can see, Dan maintained his Boston pride. But he did cheer for the Astros--they even won!


Kaden was such a good boy during the game. We didn't trust Megan to be so happy, so we left her at Granny's house.

Getting to Know You

Megan was a little wary of her Houston family when we first arrived--going on walks helped her stop crying while Dan and I were away looking at apartments! She was getting pretty comfortable with her Granny by the time we left.

Zach and Hailey, the big helpers! They loved going on walks with Granny and Megan.


A close-up on the exhausted little girl

Scooting

One of Megan's newest tricks is scooting. She will hang out on her tummy, put her hands and feet in the air and flail and then go up on her hands to see if she was able to move anywhere with her flailing. It is when she pushes up on her hands that she scoots herself backwards. It's pretty funny.

The little scooter--scooting herself away from the toys on her play-gym--she's quite proud of her accomplishment.